House GOP Fractured?

[kentuck]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/13/AR2007011301189.html

<snip>
House Republican leaders, who confidently predicted they would drive a wedge through the new Democratic majority, have found their own party splintering, with Republican lawmakers siding with Democrats in droves on the House's opening legislative blitz.

Freed from the pressures of being the majority and from the heavy hand of former leaders including retired representative Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), many back-bench Republicans are showing themselves to be more moderate than their conservative leadership and increasingly mindful of shifting voter sentiment. The closest vote last week -- Friday's push to require the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare -- pulled 24 Republicans. The Democrats' homeland security bill attracted 68 Republicans, the minimum wage increase 82.

<snip>
Last year, Rep. Deborah Pryce (Ohio) was a powerful member of the Republican leadership, responsible for uniting her fractious colleagues behind a single message. After narrowly escaping defeat in November, the swing-district Republican bolted from her party's leadership last year. Last week, she virtually bolted from the party.

With just one exception, Pryce sided with the new Democratic majority on every major bill and rule change that came to a vote in the past two weeks, even voting against her party on a procedural vote, a move considered heretical in the years of GOP control.

....more

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Music to my eyes (nt)

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I have known the biggest problem in the House was Delay.

He was the henchman. He was never about governing just power. When Bush came to power he took off as Rove's personal hit man. They threatened the congressman with ruin and the ruin of their families with inuendo and slime if they did not fall in line. Some quit but, many stayed due to fear. His henchmen are still around but, slowly falling by the wayside or in a much weakened state.
I do believe this past November cracked the gop as we know it and they will be a weaker party and in turmoil for years.

[tularetom]

3. "retired" rep.Tom Delay? Bullshit - he didn't retire

He resigned in disgrace under indictment for violation ofcampaign laws and the cloud of a bribery scandal.

[ellisonz]

4. It's fracturing and now we're just waiting for the damage to congeal.

Kind like an earthquake a good distance offshore...it does take some time for the tsunami to generate and reach shore. As a wise man once told me regarding politics, "tsunamis happen." I think that pretty much sums up last election. They've got to be nervous as all get out for 2008.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. Here in Illinois, the gop is already in tatters. a shell.

[williesgirl]

6. Hopefully they'll splinter to teeny, tiny nothings. recommended

[Cassandra]

7. This was priceless.

""Republican discipline was critically important when we were passing legislation and moving an agenda," House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said. "The Democrats will soon move from these issues that poll at 80, 90 percent to issues that really matter.""

Of course, issues that poll at 80 or 90% aren't the ones that really matter, only the ones aimed at the GOP's tiny nutcase base do. :eyes: